allegations. It is of utmost importance that she takes
the committee in her confidence.”
Basson points out that in a statement released
by Mokonyane, in which she refutes the recent
allegations, she mentions that she furnished the
president with a report pertaining to the Lesotho
Highlands Water Scheme.
“This report must also be shared with the
committee, to ensure open and transparent
governance. It is the duty of Parliament to hold the
executive to account. As such, the minister must
appear before the committee to brief Parliament on
the status of the Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme,”
he says.
Basson alleges that since her appointment in
2014, Mokonyane has been obstructive and has
had no plan to fund the R300-billion needed over
the next four years to stop a full-scale collapse of
water infrastructure in South Africa. “It is in the
interest of each and every South African that the
Department of Water and Sanitation’s funds be spent
on refurbishing our decrepit water infrastructure, as
well as ensuring that all communities have access
to clean drinking water. We cannot afford political
interference and misconduct when it comes to our
country’s water needs,” he says.
The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is a
multi-phased project to provide water to the
Gauteng region of South Africa and to generate
hydroelectricity for Lesotho. It was established by a
1986 treaty that was signed by the governments of
Lesotho and South Africa.
The project entails harnessing the waters of
the Senqu–Orange River, in the Lesotho highlands,
through the construction of a series of dams for the
mutual benefit of the two countries.
Phase 1 of the project was completed in 2004
and was intended to supply water from Lesotho to
South Africa. About 4.8 billion cubic metres of water
had been transferred by 2007. Feasibility studies for
phase 2 began in October 2005 and were completed
in May 2008.
The South African government approved the
second phase of the project, and an agreement
was signed with Lesotho in 2010 to undertake the
project. Phase 2 of the project is estimated to cost
approximately R7.3-billion and is expected to deliver
water by January 2020.
Lesotho has abundant water resources that
exceed requirements for the country’s possible
future irrigation projects and development. The total
water consumption in Lesotho is about 2m³/s, while
the total availability is about 150m³/s.
Phase 1A of the project included the construction
of the 72MW Muela Hydropower Station and the
185m-high double-curvature concrete arch Katse
18
Water Sewage & Effluent November/December 2016
Christelle Jordaan
The project
The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is a multi-phased project to
provide water for South Africa and hydroelectricity for Lesotho.
“Mokonyane must
now appear before the
Committee to clarify
these allegations. It is of
utmost importance that
she takes the committee
in her confidence.”